As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
What is the goal of Paul's teaching? Look again at verse 5 - the goal is love. I wonder if sometimes we lose this focus, this end goal in our teaching, studying, and learning. Sometimes it seems thatwe begin to pursue knowledge for its own sake, as if the key to spiritual living was in inforamtion transfer.
Don't get me wrong, I think knowledge and learning and study are very important. I have invested years of my life in these pursuits and don't regret it. But what is the goal when we study Scripture? Is it simply to know more, or to be transformed? Knowledge is important, but actions are probably more important.
Elsewhere, Paul says:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
The Bible is full of admonitions for us to act out our faith, not simply learn about it. How do you apply what you learn from Scripture?
